Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)
The Department of Culture and Sint Maarten National Commission (NatCom) for the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports (MECYS), has identified, recorded and aims to safeguard St. Maarten’s Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), thereby conducting St. Maarten’s first National ICH Inventory. This National Inventory has enabled the Government of Sint Maarten to determine the diverse cultural traditions that exist and determine policies and measures for heritage education, preservation and transmission. St. Maarten is an associate member of UNESCO and has participated in this initiative as mandated by the UNESCO 2003 Convention on “Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage”. ICH is manifested in the following domains[1]:
(a) oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage;(b) performing arts;
(c) social practices, rituals and festive events;
(d) knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe;
(e) traditional craftsmanship